Propeller wheel for steamboats



Filed Sept. 7, .1939

3, ago J Hedluk Patented May 6, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEPROPELLER WHEEL FOR 'STEAMBOATS Hugo J. Redlich, Stillwater, Minn.

Application September '7, 1939, Serial No. 293,814

2 Claim.

- tion wherein the vanes or paddles will leave the water substantiallyperpendicularly, thereby avoiding the lifting of water as in presentconstructions, enabling the improved wheel to produce greater power.

It is further aimed to provide such a construction having a multiplicityof vanes or blades whose position is controlled through cam and crankmeans operable by a drive shaft.

The more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the description following, taken in connection withaccompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation ilustrating the improved propellerwheel and Figure 2 is a view in end elevation looking from the right ofFigure 1, showing the improved propeller wheel.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference charactersdesignate like or similar parts, Ill designates parallel longitudinallyextending beams of a ship, upon which suitable bearing structures H arefastened, preferably being sectional, by means of bolts or the like l2.

Journaled in the bearing structures H is a drive shaft I3 for thepropeller wheel, the same usually being driven from the steam engine onthe ship or boat on which the beams l are mounted, as through suitableconnection with oppositely extending cranks M at opposite ends of thedrive shaft l3.

Said shaft I3 is rigid with and part of the propeller wheel which has askeleton framework l5 rigidly connected to the shaft and includingradial spokes l6, connecting members I1, and longitudinal bars at l8, l9and 20.

Blades or vanes, preferably. rectangular as shown at 2| are employed inany desired number and shafts 22 extend therefrom which are journaled inthe bars [9 and 20. In addition, pins 23 extend from the vanes 2| inalinement with the shafts 22 and they are journaled in recesses 24 inthe bar l8. At the inner end, each shaft 22 is provided with a crank 25,which by means of pins 26, are pivotally connected to links 21 adaptedfor reciprocation in paths parallel to the shaft l3.

A pair of cams 28 through which shaft l3 rotates, are rigidly bolted atl5 to bearing structures H, and each has a cam rib 29 thereon which isengaged by a groove or bifurcated portion 30 at the outer ends of thelinks 21.

As a result of the construction described, upon rotation of shaft l3 andthe propeller wheel as a whole therewith, cam ribs 29, since the cams 28are stationary with respect to the shaft l3, will cause the links 21 toreciprocate in paths parallel to the shaft |3. Such reciprocation of thelinks 21, by reason of the crank connections at 25 and 26, will rock theshafts 22 and accordingly rock the vanes or blades 2|. In practice, therocking so occurs that the vanes or blades 2| impinge upon the water,whose level is shown at 3|, only when the vanes pass through the water,since the cam means moves the vanes to perpendicular or verticalposition as they emerge from the water. As a result, the vanes do notlift the water as is usual in propeller wheels at the present time. As aresult, the propelling action is accomplished with a minimum of churningor disturbance of the water and the propeller will produce considerablymore power.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall Within the spiritand scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A propeller wheel of the class described comprising a drive shaft, askeleton frame rigid thereon, vanes having shafts journaled in theframe, links parallel to the drive shaft projecting through and outsideof the frame, crank connections between the second mentioned shafts anddrive shaft, bearing means for the drive shaft, a cam surrounding thedrive shaft located outside of said frame, bolts securing said camrigidly to the inner side of the bearing means, and an operativeconnection between the links and cam, to cause reciprocation of thelinks as the shaft rotates to move the vanes substantially verticallyout of water and to move them through water in an impinging position.

2. A propeller wheel of the class described comprising in combinationwith spaced supporting beams, a drive shaft transverse with respectthereto, a skeleton frame rigid on said drive shaft, vanes having shaftsjournaled in the frame, links parallel to the drive shaft projectingthrough and outside ofthe frame at each side thereof, crank connectionsbetween the second mentioned shafts and drive shaft, bearing means forthe drive shaft surmounting each beam, a cam through which the driveshaft passes located between the frame and each bearing means, boltssecuring said cams rigidly to the inner side of the beams and bearingmeans, and operative connections between the links and cams to causereciprocation of the links as the shaft rotates to move the vanessubstantially vertically out of water and to move them through water inan impinging position.

HUGO J. REDIICH-

